{
  "id": 2196176,
  "title": "Medellin Will Pay Incentives to Farmers Who Protect Forests and Biodiversity",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/medellin-will-pay-incentives-to-farmers-who-protect-forests-and",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-20T18:23:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Colombia One",
    "slug": "colombia-one",
    "url": "https://colombiaone.com/2026/08/20/medellin-pay-incentives-protect-forests-biodiversity/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Medellín has become the first city in Colombia to implement a program that pays farmers and landowners for protecting forests, ecosystems, soils, and biodiversity. The city launched a Payment for Environmental Services (PES) scheme in August 2026, targeting properties in five rural districts: San Sebastian de Palmitas, San Cristobal, Altavista, San Antonio de Prado, and Santa Elena.\n\nUnder the initiative, participants can receive financial or in-kind incentives for taking on specific conservation commitments, such as forest protection, wildlife and plant habitat preservation, soil conservation, and maintenance of ecological corridors. The program aims to recognize the often-overlooked ecological functions of rural areas, turning nature conservation into an income-generating activity for local communities.\n\nThe application period runs from August 18 to September 14, 2026, and is free of charge. The program builds upon Medellín's previous use of PES mechanisms to protect water sources, which already safeguarded more than 1,115 hectares across 88 rural properties. This new phase focuses on a broader range of conservation efforts, including the preservation of ecological corridors that connect different natural areas.\n\nBy directly involving rural residents in conservation efforts, the program seeks to generate additional income for participating farmers and landowners while preserving ecosystems that face pressure from land transformation. The initiative seeks to strike a balance between environmental protection and community well-being, recognizing the economic value of conservation as an activity that benefits the broader population.",
  "summary": "Medellin will pay incentives to protect forest biodiversity. The Colombian city has launched a program that seeks to turn nature conservation into an activity that can also generate income for rural communities. As of August 2026, the city began implementing a Payment for Environmental Services (PES) scheme aimed at farmers and landowners who voluntarily commit […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Medellín launches first PES program in Colombia to incentivize forest protection",
    "Farmers and landowners can receive financial and in-kind incentives for conservation commitments"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}